B2 vs B4

Q: Can I print B2 on B4?

Not at full size. Scale it to 49.9% and it fits inside B4 with 0.4 × 0 mm to spare.

	B2	B4
Millimetres	500 × 707	250 × 353
Inches	19.69 × 27.83	9.84 × 13.9
Centimetres	50 × 70.7	25 × 35.3
Aspect ratio	1:1.41	1:1.41
Area	3535 cm²	882.5 cm²

Which is bigger

B2 is 4 times the area of B4. They are 2 steps apart in the B series and each step halves the sheet, so the multiple is two to the power of 2. The number in the name going up while the sheet goes down is why this has to be asked rather than read off.

B2 is 250 mm wider than B4. B2 is 354 mm taller.

Printing one on the other

A B4 page fits inside B2 whole — print it at 100% and you get a 125 mm border down each side and 177 mm top and bottom.

You want	Set the print scale to	Leaves
B2 artwork on B4 paper	49.9%	0.4 × 0 mm margin
B4 artwork on B2 paper	200%	0 × 1 mm margin

These are the numbers for the "custom scale" box in a print dialog. "Fit to page" computes the same thing, but knowing the figure tells you in advance whether the result will look deliberate or accidental.

Why the shapes matter

Both sheets have the same 1:1.41 proportions, so artwork scales between them without any cropping or extra margin — only the size changes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between B2 and B4?

B2 is 500 × 707 mm and B4 is 250 × 353 mm. B2 is the larger of the two by 300.6% in area.

Can I print B2 on B4?

Not at full size. Scale it to 49.9% and it fits inside B4 with 0.4 × 0 mm to spare.

Which is bigger, B2 or B4?

B2 — 500 × 707 mm against 250 × 353 mm, which is 300.6% more area.

Related comparisons

B2 in full · B4 in full · All size comparisons · All paper sizes